:BRARY 


THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 


PRESENTED  BY 
HAROLD  CHASE 


THE  ORIGINAL  ITALIAN, 
FRENCH  OR  GERMAN 
LIBRETTO  WITH    A 
CORRECT   ENGLISH 
RANSLATION. 


GISMONDA 


PUBLISHED 


THEATRE:  TICKET  OfFICE; 
III    BROADWAY.    NEW  YORK 

TRINITY-  BUILDING 

THE  ONLY  CORRECT  AND  AUTHORIZED  EDITION 


GISMONDA 

OPERA 

IN    THREE    ACTS 


THE   MUSIC   BY 

HENRI    FEVRIER 


Copyright,  1918  by  Fred  Rullman  Inc. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

FRED  RULLMAN,  Inc. 

AT  THE 

THEATRE  TICKET  OFFICE,  1 1 1  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK 


GISMONDA 


ACTE  PREMIER. 

Gismonda  est  le  plus  hard!  des  drames  de  Sardou.  L'histoire  est  vive,  surprenante 
et  tout  &  fait  originate. 

Au  commencement  nous  trouvons  Gisraonda,  la  veuve  de  feu  due  d'Athenes  et  la 
mere  du  petit  prince  Fernando,  age  de  cinq  ans. 

Gismonda  gouverne  le  duche  comme  regente  pour  son  fils.  Elle  est  entouree  d'une 
cour  brillante  et  flatteuse,  et  les  individus  de  sa  suite  sont  complaisants  d  tous  ses  ca- 
prices. Elle  est  devote,  colerique,  folatre,  genereuse,  desobligeante  tour  a  tour.  Son 
pouvoir  est  absolu  pendant  la  minorite  de  son  tils.  x 

Parmi  les  seigneurs  de  sa  cour  se  trouve  un  Yenitien  nomme  Zacaria  Franco  qui  a 
aime  la  Duchesse  avant  son  mariage  avec  le  Due  d' Athene.  Apparemment  il  est  un 
de  ses  plus  fermes  amis  ;  mais,  en  effet,  il  est  traitre  et  ennemi  du  gouvernement  qu'il 
veut  subvertir  pour  saisir  la  couronne  lui-meme.  Non  seulement  est  il  ambitieux  et 
diplomatique,  mais  tres  hardi  aussi.  II  s'est  lie  avec  les  Turcs  qui  1'aiderent  dans  ses 
projets  de  s'emparer  du  Duche. 

Fernando,  le  jeune  fils  de  Gismonda,  est  un  obstacle  a  ses  projets  et  il  conspire 
avec  Gregarez  pour  le  tuer.  lls  n'attend  que  1'occasion  de  1'assommer  quand  le 
drame  commence. 

C'est  1'annee  A.  D.  1450.  La  place  c'est  au  pied  de  1'Acropole  d'Athenes.  Le 
Parthenon  domine  la  scene. 

Une  croix  s'eleve  au  milieu  du  theatre,  autour  de  laquelle  il-y-a  une  foule  de  per- 
sonnes  qui  chantent.  Agnello,  neveu  de  la  Duchesse  Gismonda,  entre  pour  regarder 
un  tigre  qui  est  dans  un  puits ;  il  1'appelle  un  grand  chat,  qu'il  aime  mieux  voir  a 
distance. 

Barsiliades,  Bridas  et  Mataxas  approchent  pour  le  saluer.  On  parle  d'une  statue 
d' Aphrodite  qui  s'eleve  aupres  de  la  grande  croix.  Tout  a  1'heure  viennent  Zacaria  et 
Gregorez.  Us  parlent  d'un  projet  qui  a  pour  but  d'entrainer  Fernando  au  bord  du 
puits  dans  lequel  est  le  tigre  et  de  le  faire  tomber  dedans  comme  par  hazard.  L^ne 
fois  dans  le  puits  le  pauvre  enfant  est  mort.  Le  tigre  est  feroce.  Le  bruit,  les  visages 
etranges  qu'il  ne  peut  pas  atteindre  1'ont  enrage.  II  traverse  le  puits  tout  courouce. 
La  soeur  de  Gregorez  est  la  nourrice  de  1'enfant,  et  Gregorez  compte  que,  grace  a  sa 
parente,  il  peut  s'approcher  a  1'enfant  d'assez  pres  pour  accomplir  son  dessein.  Sa 
sceur,  Leonarda,  aime  le  petit  prince  et  ne  connart  pas  le  projet  vilain  de  son  frere. 

Apres  une  longue  scene  dans  laquelle  tous  les  details  du  crime  sont  fixes,  Zacaria 
et  Gregorez  sont  rejoints  par  Gismonda,  avec  son  enfant,  Thisbe  et  Leonarda. 

On  discute  encore  la  statue  qui  a  etc  place  recemment  aupres  de  la  croix, 

La  figure  de  la  divine  Aphrodite  ne  plait  pas  a  Gismonda. 


o^  UNIVERSITY  OT^  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 

GISMONDA. 


ACT  I. 

Of  all  Sardou's  plays,  Gismonda  is  the  most  daring.  The  story  is  vivid,  astonish- 
ing, and  wholly  unconventional,  also  perfectly  original. 

In  the  opening  act,  we  find  Gismonda,  a  widow,  the  widow  of  the  Duke  of 
Athens,  and  the  mother  of  his  child,  a  boy  of  five  years.  Gismonda  is  the  ruling 
power  of  the  duchy  as  regent  for  her  son.  She  is  surrounded  by  a  flattering,  brilliant 
court,  and  her  followers  humor  every  outburst.  She  is  pious,  passionate,  playful,  gen- 
erous, unkind — all  in  turn.  She  wields  absolute  power  until  her  son  shall  become  of 
age.  Among  the  nobles  of  her  court  is  a  Venetian,  named  Zaccaria  Franco,  who 
loved  the  Duchess  before  she  married  the  Duke  of  Athens.  He  is  seemingly  one  of 
Ler  strongest  supporters,  but  in  reality  he  is  continually  striving  to  upset  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Duchy  and  reign  himself.  He  is  not  only  ambitious  and  diplomatic,  but 
daring. 

He  is  in  league  with  the  Turks,  with  whom  he  is  a  powerful  leader,  and  in  whom 
he  finds  allies  to  help  him  in  his  plotting  against  the  duchy.  Francesco,  Gismonda's 
child,  stands  between  Zaccaria  and  the  furtherance  of  his  desires.  He  enters  into  a 
conspiracy  with  Gregorez,  to  murder  the  boy.  Zaccaria  and  Gregorez  are  but  waiting 
their  turn  to  kill  the  child  when  the  play  opens.  The  time  is  the  year  1450.  The 
first  act  takes  place  at  the  foot  of  the  Acropolis.  High  above  towers  the  Parthenon. 

A  cross  stands  in  the  centre  of  the  stage  ;  about  this  a  crowd  is  surging.  Presently 
Agnello,  a  young  nephew  of  the  Duchess  Gismonda,  enters  to  see  a  tiger,  which  is 
confined  in  a  pit.  He  peers  down  at  it,  describing  it  as  a  big  cat.  It  is  a  cat  he  pre- 
fers to  see  at  a  distance.  He  is  joined  by  Basiliades,  Bridas,  and  Mataxas.  They  dis- 
cuss a  statue  of  Aphrodite,  which  stands  at  one  side  of  the  huge  cross. 

Presently  Zaccaria  and  his  accomplice  Gregorez  appear. 

They  plan  to  lure  Francesco,  Gismonda's  son,  to  the  edge  of  the  pit,  and,  as  by 
accident,  to  jostle  him  over.  Once  in  the  pit,  he  is  the  same  as  dead.  The  tiger  is 
furious  ;  the  confusion  above  him,  the  sight  of  strange  faces  which  he  cannot  reach, 
are  driving  him  into  a  frenzy.  He  paces  his  pit  in  helpless  fury. 

Gregorez' sister  is  the  child's  companion .  Gregorez  relies  upon  this  fact  to  get 
near  enough  to  the  little  one  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  His  sister  Leonarda  loves 
the  little  prince,  and  does  not  dream  of  her  brother's  horrible  plan. 

After  a  long  scene,  in  which  every  detail  of  their  scheme  is  arranged,  Zaccaria  and 
Gregorez  are  joined  by  Gismonda,  with  her  child,  Thisbe,  Leonarda  and  others. 

Ao;ain  the  statue  is  discussed.  It  lias  just  been  placed  by  the  cross,  and  Gismonda 
is  not  pleased  with  her  first  view  of  the  celebrated  Aphrodite. 

After  a  gay  scene  the  Bishop  passes  oy.  He  is  asked  to  sit  in  judgment  upon 
Aphrodite.  It  appears  that  he,  too,  is  not  partial  to  the  statue. 


4  GISMONDA. 

Apres  une  scene  de  gaitee  1'Eveque  passe  par  la.  On  le  prie  de  jnger  J'Aphrodite 
et  il  parait  que  le  Monsignor  n'aime  pas  la  deesse  non  plus. 

Pendant  la  discussion,  Gregorez  a  porte  1'enfant  au  bord  du  puits  pour  lui  montrei 
le  tigre,  et  soudainement  le  fait  totnber  dans  le  trou. 

Avec  un  cri  d'horreur,  Gismonda  voit  son  enfant  tomber.  Elle  ne  s'  appercoit 
pas  que  c'est  Gregorez  qui  1'a  pousse.  Elle  implore  les  spectateurs  de  sauver  1'enfant. 
Elle  offre  une  recompense  illimitee. 

Personne  ne  veut  risquer  sa  vie,  le  danger  est  trop  grave.  Ses  cris,  ses  off  res  sont 
vains.  Elle  menace,  mais  ses  menaces  sont  inutiles  aussi. 

Le  tigre  rampe,  affame  !  Un  homme  se  precipite  dans  le  puits.  Gismonda  se 
prosterne  au  pied  de  la  croix.  Elle  supplie  la  Sainte  Vierge,  qui  est  elle-rneme  mere, 
de  1'aider.  Elle  crie,  elle  implore  la  misericorde  du  ciel. 

Les  autres  decrivent  le  conflit  avec  le  tigre. 

L'animal  est  blesse  mortellement,  le  poignard  a  perce  1'oeil  et  parvint  a  la  cervelle. 

Gismonda,  en  embrassant  son  fils  sauve,  jure,  au  pied  de  la  croix,  de  partager  son 
Duche  et  sa  vie  avec  le  hero  qui  a  montre  un  si  grand  courage. 

"  Faites  le  moi  voir  !  "  ordonne.  .  .  .  elle. 

"  Zacaria,  Lusignan,  Giustiniani,  qui  a  accompli  cet  action  heroique  ?  " 

Thisbe  fait  voir  le  sauveur  de  1'enfant,  Gismonda  ne  le  connait  pas.  C'est  Almerio, 
un  simple  fauconnier,  un  homme  du  peuple  ! 

La  reconnaissance  de  Gismonda  commence  a  refroidir.  Son  enfant  est  sauve  et,  au 
mieux,  la  reconnaissance  n'est  qu'un  sentiment  tres  passager. 

L'honneur,  la  renommee,  la  gloire,  sont  assez  pour  Almerio  sans  sa  personne  et  son 
Duche. 

L'Eveque  la  fait  souvenir  de  sa  promesse.  C'est  ce  voeu  qui  est  le  pivot  autour 
duquel,  Sardou  deroule  son  drame. 

Gismonda  dit  a  PEveqne  que  c'est  inutile  de  parler  de  son  voau,  parce  que  c'est  im- 
possible de  1'accomplir. 

Elle  remercie  Almerio  avec  humilite  douce,  avec  bonte  aimable  et  en  protectioce. 
Elle  reunit  tous  les  charmes  de  son  sexe  etant  en  meme  temps  maitresse  de  Part  de 
la  flatten  . 

Sans  doute  Almerio  est  un  digne  garcon,  mais  il  est  un  paysan !  Un  serment 
voue  a  un  paysan  n'est  pas  aussi  obligatoire  qu'une  promesse  donner  a  un  prince. 

Gismonda  commence  a  chercher  une  issue.  L'Eglise  1'absoudra,  elle  aura 
recours  au  Pape. 

Modeste,  mais  ferme,  Almerio  lui  repond  qu'elle  lui  appartient  et  reclame  ses 
droits. 

Elle  lui  offre  son  duche,  tout,  excepte  sa  personne. 

"  Vous  avez  promis  et  j'insiste  que  vous  tiendrez  votre  promesse,"  dit  Almerio, 

Le  rideau  tombe  quand  Gismonda  se  retire  avec  son  enfant. 


GISMONDA.  5 

During  this  talk,  Gregorez  has  taken  the  child  to  the  edge  of  the  pit  to  show  it  the 
tiger.  By  a  dexterous  shove,  Francesco  falls  in. 

With  a  horrible  cry,  Gismonda  sees  the  child  topple  into  the  den  ;  she  does  not 
see  that  Gregorez  pushed  him  in.  She  beseeches  someone — anyone — to  save  her 
son.  There  is  no  limit  to  the  reward  she  offers  the  man  who  will  descend  into  the  pit 
to  rescue  Francesco. 

As  the  result  is  almost  certain  death,  no  one  makes  a  move  towards  the  rescue.  Her 
offers,  her  frantic  cries,  are  unheeded.  She  even  resorts  to  hreats,  but  as  no  punish- 
ment she  can  impose  is  worse  than  the  descent  into  the  pit,  er  threats  fall  unheeded. 

At  last  a  man  is  seen  to  seize  a  poignard  and  descend  to  the  child's  rescue. 

The  tiger  crouches  ready  to  seize  his  prey.     A  man  leaps  into  the  pit. 

Gismonda  throws  herself  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  She  prays  for  help  to  the  Virgin, 
who  is,  like  herself,  a  mother.  She  begs,  entreats  for  mercy. 

The  others  describe  the  conflict  in  the  pit. 

The  tiger  is  mortally  wounded  ;  the  point  of  the  dagger  enters  the  beast's  brain 
through  the  eye. 

In  the  excess  of  her  joy  Gismonda  clasps  the  boy  in  her  arms,  and,  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross,  registers  a  vow  before  God  to  share  her  duchy  and  her  life  with  the  man  who 
has  shown  such  courage. 

"  Let  me  see  him,"  she  commands. 

Zaccaria,  Lusignan,  Ginstiniani  ?     "Which  of  them  has  done  this  wonderful  thing  ? 

Thisbe  points  out  the  hero.  It  is  no  one  she  knows — Almerio,  a  falconer,  a  man 
of  the  populace. 

Gismonda's  gratitude  begins  to  cool.  Her  child  is  safe,  and — gratitude  is  a  fleeting 
emotion  at  best. 

Honor,  fame,  glory ;  these  are  enough  for  Almerio  without  herself  and  her  duchy 

The  Bishop  reminds  her  of  her  promise. 

It  is  on  this  vow  that  the  entire  play  swings.  It  is  the  pivot  around  which  Sardou 
causes  Gismonda  and  the  drama  to  revolve.  Gismonda  tells  the  Bishop  that  he  need 
not  remind  her  of  her  oath,  it  is  impossible  to  fulfill  it. 

She  thanks  Almerio  with  sweet  humility — with  kind,  affectionate  patronage.  She 
can  be  all  women  rolled  into  one,  this  Gismonda,  and  she  knows  the  art  of  flattery. 

Almerio  is  no  doubt  a  worthy  person,  but  he  is  a  peasant.  A  vow  pledged  to  a 
peasant  is  not  as  binding  as  with  a  prince.  She  begins  to  look  for  a  loophole  out  of 
the  perplexing  situation.  The  Church  shall  absolve  her.  She  will  appeal  to  the  Pope. 

With  modest,  yet  determined  mien,  Almerio  stands  in  her  presence  and  claims  his 
own. 

All  shall  be  his — save  herself  and  her  duchy. 

"  I  want  your  promise  as  you  gave  it.     I  ask  the  fulfillment  of  the  vow,"  Almerio 

s. 

The  curtain  falls  as  Gismonda  is  hurrying  away  with  her  child. 


GISMONDA. 


ACTE   SECOND. 

Dans  le  second  Acte  nous  nous  trouvous  au  couvent  de  Daphni  ou  Gismonda 
est  en  retraite  avec  son  petit  enfant  qui  est  malade. 

Thisbe  et  Leonarda  jasent  entre  eux  au  lever  du  rideau.  Au  dehors  et  invisible 
Gismonda  se  promene  avec  1'Abbesse.  Thisbe  et  Leonarda  parlent  de  1'enfant  et 
de  la  fievre  qui  vient  avec  le  soir  et  ne  s'adoucie  qu'avec  le  matin. 

Thisbe  dit  que  la  maladie  est  du  au  choc  et  a  1'epouvante  que  1'enfant  a  subit 
dans  la  fosse  du  tigre. 

"  Ne  parlez  pas  de  §a,"  prie  Leonarda.  "  £a  me  fait  pleurer.  J'en  ai  assez 
souffert,  Dieu  le  sait !  "  Thisbe  la  console.  Ce  n'etait  pas  votre  faute  que  votre 
frere  soit  un  ivrogne. 

Depuis  1'accident  Gregorez  a  disparu !  II  a  quitte  le  palais,  se  cachant  de  peur 
de  Gismonda,  qui  ne  veut  pas  entendre  son  nom.  II  lui  a  causi  trop  de  souffrance ! 

On  dit  qu'elle  va  se  marier,  d  Paques,  avec  Almerio,  1'homme  qui  a  sauve  son 
fils  de  la  queul  du  tigre !  Au  couvent  tout  le  monde  est  curieux  de  suvoir  si  Gis- 
monda tiendra  son  voeu,  le  vceu  d'epouser  le  sauveur  de  son  fils. 

"  LTne  duchesse  se  marier  avec  un  homme  du  peuple  ?  un  betard !  le  fils  d'une 
servante! " 

Thisbe  raconte  que  Gismonda  lui  a  confie  le  soin  de  la  main  blessee  d' Almerio,. 
et  qu'il  a  ete  gueri  au  palais  ou  il  est  reste  une  sernaine.  Dans  les  longues  heures 
de  la  nuit  Thisbe  a  apprit  a  venerer  le  beau,  et  brave  jeune  homme.  II  est  evident 
qu'il  sacquiert  la  sympathie  de  tout  le  monde.  II  n'est  qu'un  simple  fauconnier, 
mais  son  coeur  est  noble.  II  est  courageux  aussi  car  il  a  aime  Gismonda  avant 
qu'elle  connaissait  son  existence.  II  a  soigne  les  faucons  et  les  ger-faucons  au  palais 
et  s'etait  la  qu'il  a  apprit  a  aimer  sa  maitresse  royale,  la  Duchesse  d'Athenes.  Une 
fois  il  etait  en  route  pour  Palerme,  mais  il  avait  attarde  son  depart  de  jour  en 
jour  aim  qu'il  puisse  voir  Gismonda  4  la  distance.  Sa  promesse  1'a  rempli  de 
joie,  mais  il  a  donne  a  Gismonda  des  heures  de  la  souffrance.  Elle  a  envoye  une 
lettre  au  Saint  Pere,  lui  apprenant  les  faits  le  priant  de  vouloir  veut  1'absoudrer 
de  son  voeu,  et  elle  attend  impatiemment  la  reponse. 

line  orage  de  calamite  est  tombe  sur  le  peuple  et  on  blame  Gismonda  parcequ'en 
rompant  le  voeu,  fait  devant  le  bon  Dieu,  elle  a  ete  la  cause  des  desastres.  La  moidie 


GISMONDA. 


.     ACT  II. 

In  the  second  act  we  find  ourselves  in  the  Convent  of  Daphne,  where  Gismonda 
has  gone  into  a  retreat  with  her  little  son,  who  is  ill  with  a  heavy  malarial  fever. 

Thisbe  and  Leonarda  are  chattering  to  each  other  as  the  curtain  rises.  Outside, 
unseen,  Gismonda  is  pacing  up  and  down  with  the  others.  Thisbe  and  Leonarda  speak 
of  the  child,  of  the  strange  fever  which,  coming  on  just  as  the  sun  sinks  into  the  sea, 
only  lessens  when  the  sun  rises  again. 

Thisbe  thinks  the  illness  is  caused  by  the  child's  fright  in  the  tiger's  pit. 

"  Don't  speak  of  that,"  Leonarda  begs,  "  it  makes  me  cry.  I've  suffered  enough  for 
that,  God  knows !  " 

Thisbe  comforts  Leonarda.  Is  it,  she  reasons,  Leonarda's  fault,  because  her  brother  is 
a  sot? 

Since  the  accident  Gregorez  has  vanished.  Half  mad,  he  has  quitted  the  palace, 
hiding  in  fear  of  Gismonda.  In  the  meantime,  Gismonda  will  not  hear  his  name.  He 
has  brought  trouble  enough  to  her. 

Rumors  are  afloat  that  during  Easter  week  she  will  marry  the  man  who  has  saved 
the  life  of  her  son — Almerio.  The  story  has  crept  into  the  convent.  Every  one  is 
filled  with  curiosity  to  know  if  Gismonda  will  keep  her  vow — the  vow  to  marry  her 
son's  rescuer,  towards  whom  she  feels  a  strong  dislike.  A  duchess  marry  a  man  of  the 
people,  a  man  of  illegitimate  birth,  the  son  of  a  common  servant !  Will  she  do  it? 

Thisbe  tells  how  Gismonda  bade  her  care  for  Almerio's  wounded  hand ;  how  he 
received  every  attention  in  the  palace,  where  he  recovered  from  his  injury  in  a  week's 
time.  During  the  long  watches  Thisbe  learned  to  respect  the  handsome,  brave  fellow. 
It  is  plain  that  he  enlists  sympathy  and  liking  wherever  he  goes  and  among  all  classes 
of  folk.  He  is  but  a  falconer,  but  he  is  brave  at  heart :  he  is  also  daring,  for  he  loved 
Gismonda  long  before  she  ever  knew  of  his  existence.  He  has  looked  after  the  falcons 
and  the  gerfalcons  at  the  palace,  and  there  he  learned  to  love  his  royal  mistress,  the 
Duchess  of  Athens.  Once  he  was  going  to  Palermo,  but  put  off  his  departure  day 
by  day  that  for  trivial  excuses  he  might  see  Gismonda  from  afar.  If  Gismonda's 
promise  fills  him  with  joy,  it  has  given  Gismonda  many  hours  of  anxious  misery.  She 
dispatched  a  note  to  the  Holy  Father  telling  him  the  full  facts  of  the  case,  begging 
to  be  formally  absolved  from  her  vow.  She  is  eagerly  awaiting  the  answer.  Many 
calamities  have  fallen  upon  the  people  of  late,  and  the  populace  have  blamed  Gismonda. 
In  breaking  a  pledge  made  in  the  sight  of  God,  she  is  bringing  disaster  upon  the 
country.  One-half  the  lower  part  of  the  city  is  flooded,  cholera  is  raging,  a  cross  has 
blo\\n  off  a  church,  and,  worse  than  all,  the  pirates  have  reached  Marathon  and  made 
a  safe  landing ;  even  now  they  are  ensconced  in  the  tower  of  Sonla,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  their  chief,  the  bloodthirsty  Fabrique  Siscar. 


8  GISMOKDA. 

de  la  oasse  ville  est  inonde,  le  cholera  Asiatique  est  violent.  Le  vent  a  fait  tomber  la 
croix  d'une  eglise  et  le  pire  est  que  des  corsaires  sont  debarques  a  Marathon,  et  se 
sont  etablies  dans  IP  tour  de  Soula  sous  la  protection  de  leur  chef,  le  sanguinaire  Fa- 
drique  Siscar. 

En  effet,  si  Gismonda  s'obstine  a  refuser  de  tenir  sa  promesse  sacree,  le  peuple 
crairit  que  la  pestilence  ou  la  guerre  viendra  de  la  juste  colere  de  Dieu. 

Comme  Thisbe  et  Leonarda  parlent  ainsi  on  f  rappe  violemment  4  la  porte. 

C'est  Agnello ;  il  n'est  pas  le  bienvenu.  II  est  un  jeune  homme,  et  les  jeunes 
hommes  ne  sont  pas  les  bienvenus  dans  les  convents.  Les  deux  bonnes  femmes  lui 
ouvrent  la  porte  avec  beaucoup  d'hesitation.  II  demande  des  nouvelles  des  nonnes. 

"  Est-ce  pour  cela  que  vous  avez  f  lappe  a  la  porte  ? "  demande  Thisbe. 

Agnello  lui  repond  qu'il  est  charge  d'un  message  important  pour  sa  tante 
Gismonda. 

Les  voix  de  Gismonda  et  de  1'Abbesse  se  font  entendre  et  Agnello  se  cache  a  la 
hote. 

Des  jeunes  religieuses  suivent  Gismonda  et  la  sainte  femrne,  Gismonda  est  tres 
pieuse.  Elle  promet  de  redorer  la  croix  et  de  faire  d'autres  reparations  dans  le  couvent, 
coinme  souvenir  de  sa  visite,  et  de  la  bonte  qu'elle  a  trouve  dans  cette  retraite  sacree  et 
paisible. 

"  Remerciez  la  Duchesse  mes  lilies,"  dit  1'Abbesse. 

Les  nonnes  chantent :  "  Gratias  agimus  tibi." 

Le  petit  Francesco,  sort  a  la  voix  de  sa  mere.  II  dit  que  son  cheval  a  besoin  d'exer- 
cice.  C'est  un  tout  petit  cheval  de  bois.  L'acces  de  la  fievre  s'approche.  Sa  tete  brule, 
ses  petites  mains  sont  toutes  mouillees.  Gismonda  lui  dit  que  le  cheval  a  besoin  de  se 
reposer  et  qu'il  faut  aller  au  lit.  Le  petit  gargon  est  entrain  e  en  protestant,  suivi  de 
Gabrielle,  souhaitant  le  bon  sommeille  a  1'enfant,  1'Abbesse  et  les  nonnes  S3  retirent  et 
Gismonda  re^oit  Agnello. 

Ses  nouvelles  lui  disent,  que  ce  matin  meme  quelques  jeunes  seigneurs,  en  se  pro- 
menant  pres  de  1'Eglise  de  St.  Georges  avaient  rencontres  Almerio  et  Ini  avaient  de- 
mandes  sa  benediction  coinme  due  et  Regent  de  la  Sicile. 

"  Ca  viendra,"  Almerio  avait  repondu,  "  quand  il  plaira  a  notre  dame."  (Gismonda.) 

Le  Due  de  Naxos,  ripostant  avait  dit : 

" "  Croyez  vous  que  nous  autres  gentilshommes   vous   obeiraient   comme   maitre  ? 
Vous !  homme  du  peuple  ?  " 

"  Par  la  grace  de  Dieu  et  par  la  force  de  mon  bras  je  deviendrai  un  homme  de 
rang ! "  lui  a  repondu  Almerio  en  le  moquant. 

Un  des  Barons  dit  a  Almerio  qu'il  aura  sa  chance,  parce  que  le  Due  Nerio  offre  la 
propriete  et  le  titre  de  Sonla  a  qui  lui  apporterait  la  tete  du  pirate  Fadrique.  Sonla 
donne  le  titre  de  Comte  a  son  proprietaire. 

A  ces  nouvelles  Almerio  s'est  remue,  dans  un  heureil  etait  en  route  pour  Marathon, 
suivi  de  deux  cents  brave  gardens  bien  armes." 

"  Eh !  bien,  et  apres  ? "  demande  Gismonda. 


GISMONDA.  9 

In  fact,  if  Gismonda  still  holds  out  against  her  hoiy  promise,  the  people  predict 
either  the  plague  or  war,  drawn  down  upon  them  by  the  righteous  wrath 
of  God. 

As  Thisbe  and  Leonarda  are  going  over  these  matters,  a  loud  knocking  is  heard 
at  the  gate. 

Agnello  is  outside.  He  is  not  welcome.  He  is  a  young  man  and  young  men  are 
not  customary  in  convents.  The  two  good  women  let  him  in — with  hesitation.  He 
asks  after  the  nuns — all  of  them. 

"  Is  it  for  this  you  knocked  at  the  gate  ?  "  asks  Thisbe. 

Agnello  says  he  brings  an  important  message  for  his  aunt,  Gismonda. 

Presently  the  voices  of  Gismonda  and  the  Abbess  are  heard.  Agnello  secretes 
himself.  Young  nuns  are  falling  in  Gismonda's  and  the  Holy  Mother's  train.  She 
is  very  religious  at  present.  As  she  enters,  she  is  promising  the  Abbess  to  regild  a 
cross  and  make  other  repairs  in  the  convent  as  a  souvenir  of  her  visit  and  the  pious 
affection  she  has  found  in  the  peaceful  retreat. 

"  Thank  her,  my  daughters,"  says  the  Abbess. 

"  Gratias  agimus  Madonna,"  the  young  nuns  pipe  up,  as  lustily  as  quail  in 
the  grass. 

Little  Francesco,  hearing  his  mother's  voice,  comes  out.  He  says  his  horse  needs 
a  walk.  He  carries  a  tiny  wooden  horse.  The  fever  is  coming  upon  him.  His  head 
is  hot,  his  little  hands  are  damp. 

Gismonda  tells  him  the  horse  needs  sleep,  that  it  must  go  to  bed. 

Protesting,  the  boy  is  led  away,  Cypriella  following  with  his  medicine. 

Wishing  the  child  happy  slumbers,  the  nuns  and  Abbess  withdraw. 

Gismonda  receives  Agnello.  This  is  his  news  :  That  very  morning,  some  young 
nobles  walking  past  the  Church  of  St.  George,  met  Almerio.  Jokingly,  they  asked  his 
blessing,  and  when  he  was  to  become  Regent  of  the  Duchy. 

"  That  time  will  be,"  Almerio  answered,  "  when  it  shall  please  our  lady 
(Gismonda).  But  the  day  will  come,  surely." 

Then  the  Duke  of  Naxos  replied  ;  "  Do  you  think  people  of  rank — gentlemen — 
will  accept  you  for  their  leader,  you,  a  man  of  the  people  ?  " 

"  I  shall,  by  the  Grace  of  God  and  the  strength  of  my  arms,  become  a  man  of 
rank,"  answered  Almerio. 

In  jest,  one  of  the  barons  tells  Almerio  that  his  chance  awaits  him,  for  the  Duke 
Nerio  offers  the  estate  and  title  of  Sonla  to  the  man  who  will  bring  before  him  the 
head  of  the  pirate  Fabrique.  Sonla  carries  the  title  of  Count. 

Almerio  no  sooner  heard  this  than  he  bestirred  himself.  In  an  hour  he  was  march- 
ing on  to  Marathon,  followed  by  two  hundred  good  men  well  armed. 

"  Well,  what  news  further  ? "  asks  Gismonda. 

"  None,"  Agnello  replies.  "  We  do  not  know  his  fate  as  yet.  Dom  Bridas  was 
coming  to  tell  you  all  this,  but  I  shut  him  up  in  his  room  and  came  myself.  A  fine 
temper  he'll  be  in." 


10  GISMONDA. 

"  Je  n'en  sais  rien  de  plus,"  repond  Agnello. 

"  La  fin  n'est  pas  encore  connue.  Don  Bridas  doit  vous  dire  tout  cela  ;  mais  je  1'ai 
renferme  dans  sa  chambre,  a  clef,  et  je  suis  venu  moi-meme.  Mon  Dieu  qu'il  s'enra- 
gerait ! " 

Avec  la  proraesse  d'une  bonne  bouteille  de  vin  pour  adoucir  le  pauvre  Bridas,  1'impe- 
tueux  Agnello  prit  son  conge  et  part.  Thisbe  demande  a  Gismonda  s'il  ne  serait 
mieux  si  le  corsaire  s'emparerait  d'Almerio. 

Gismonda  explique  qu'elle  ne  peut  pas  expriraer  see  sentiments.  Le  difference 
entre  leur  rang  doit  suffire  a  rend  re  le  presence  d'Almerio  impossible. 

Meme  au  convent  ou  elle  avait  espe"re  de  trouver  de  la  tranquilite  et  du  repos,  le 
souvenir  de  cet  homme  1'inquiete.  Et  apres  tout  n'est-ce  pas  qu'un  couvent  est  letom- 
beau  de  1'ame  ?  Non !  la  cloitre  n'aura  jamais  aucun  tentation  pour  elle.  C'est  urie 
mort  vivante. 

Thisbe  propose  un  seconde  mariage,  Gismonda  est  jeune  encore,  et,  comme  le  cou- 
vent ne  lui  plait  pas,  le  monde  est  a  ses  pieds. 

Gismonda  a  peur  des  homines,  elle  est  persuadee  que  c'est  son  duche  qu'ils  aiment  et 
non  pas  elle-meme.  II  n'y  qu'un  homme  a  qui  elle  peut  se  confier — Zacaria  ! 

"  Ah  !  "  dit  Thisbe,  avec  dedain.    "  II  est  le  tils  d'un  traitre." 

Au  moment  qu'on  parle,  Zacaria  vient,  Thisbe",  qui  le  deteste,  quitte  la  chambre  et 
Gismonda  le  re$oit  seule.  II  a  des  nouvelles  d'Almerio,  un.  joli  conte  vraiment. 

Selon  lui,  Almerio  a  vaincu  le  corsaire  Fadrique  avec  ses  propres  mains.  II  abrule 
le  pi  apart  des  bateaux  pirates  et  en  les  attaquant  par  surprise,  il  a  fait  une  brave  con- 
quete.  II  a  conpe  la  tete  de  Fadrique  avec  une  hache. 

Le  jouet  des  jeunes  Barons,  Almerio  avait  quitte  la  ville  un  simplefauconnier. 

Mais  le  retour !  II  rentre  en  triomphe,  ses  partisans  couronnes  de  lauriers,  des  cor- 
saires  captives  dans  son  suite.  Au  pommelle  de  sa  se'le,  la  tete  de  Fadrique,  une  trophee 
sanglante. 

Par  un  fait  de  bravoure  le  fauconnier  est  devenu  Comte !  Comte  de  Sonla  ! ! 

Zacaria  declare  son  amour  a  Gismonda  vainement ! 

L'Eveque  vient,  portant  la  reponse  du  Saint-Fere  a  Gismonda  ! 

Sa  Saintete  insiste  qu'il  faut  absolument  que  Gismonda  trndra  sa  promesse,  et  se 
mariera  avec  Almerio.  II  n'y  a  qu'un  moyen  d'echapper.  Si  elle  ne  veut  pas  etre  1'e- 
pouse  d'Almerio,  ilfaut  qu'elle  soit  1'epouse  du  Christ,  une  religieuse. 

Gismonda  est  au  desespoir.  Elle  offre  des  cadeaux  a  1'Eglise.  Elle  le  combie  d'in- 
jures,  elle  1'enjole.  Elle  le  flatte,  ellele  medit.  En  vain  ! 

Le  Saint-Fere  a  donne  son  "  Fiat ! " 

Le  calme  de  la  cloitre  est  trouble  par  les  cris  de  douleur  que  pousse  Gismonda. 
Toutes  ses  promesses  d'or  et  de  cadeaux  riches  a  1'Eglise  sontinutiles.  Dans  unelongue 
scene  entre  1'Eveque  et  elle,  elle  ne  trouve  point  d'issu  pour  echapper,  son  predica- 
ment terrible.  Priant  que  la  nuit  portera  conseil,  le  bon  Eveque  se  retire  la  laissant 
avec  Zacaria. 

Gismonda,  plaidant  fatigue,  le  laisse  avec  Leonarda. 


GISMONDA.  11 

With  the  promise  of  a  bottle  of  wine  to  soothe  Bridas,  the  impetuous  Agnello 
takes  his  departure.  Thisbe  asks  Gismonda  if  it  will  not  be  for  the  best  if  the  pirates 
capture  Almerio. 

Gismonda  explains  that  she  cannot  fully  express  her  feelings.  The  difference  be- 
tween their  stations  is  sufficient  to  make  Almerio's  presence  impossible. 

Even  here  in  the  convent,  where  she  expected  peace,  quiet,  rest,  his  very  memory 
disturbs  her.  And,  after  all,  is  not  a  convent  the  grave  of  the  soul  ?  No,  the  cloister 
would  never  tempt  her  ;  it  is  a  living  death. 

Thisbe  mentions  a  second  marriage,  for  Gismonda  is  young,  and  since  the  convent 
does  not  tempt  her,  the  world  and  its  joys  might. 

Gismonda  fears  men.  She  thinks  they  are  in  love  with  her  duchy,  not  with  her. 
There  is  only  one  man  she  thinks,  perhaps,  she  can  trust — Zaccaria. 

"  Ah  ! "  Thisbe  says,  disdainfully,  "  he  is  the  son  of  a  traitor." 

As  they  are  speaking  of  Zaccaria  he  is  announced.  Thisbe,  who  detests  him, 
leaves  the  room,  and  Gismonda  receives  Zaccaria  alone.  He,  too,  brings  news  of  Al- 
merio. It  is  a  fine  tale  he  tells. 

Almerio  has  vanquished  the  pirate  Fabrique  with  his  own  hands.  He  has  fired 
most  of  the  pirate  boats,  and  taking  Fabrique  and  his  followers  by  surprise,  has  made 
a  brave  conquest.  Fabrique  he  beheaded  with  an  axe. 

The  sport  of  the  barons,  Almerio  quitted  the  town  a  simple  falconer.  But  the 
return  !  He  enters  the  city,  his  followers  crowned  with  laurel,  captive  pirates  in  his 
train.  At  his  side,  attached  to  his  saddle,  the  head  of  Fabrique  swings  in  bloody  tri- 
umph. The  falconer,  by  an  act  of  daring,  has  become  a  Count — the  Count  of  Sonla. 

During  the  interview  Zaccaria  pleads  his  love  for  Gismouda  in  vain. 

Presently  the  Bishop  comes  in  to  bring  the  Holy  Father's  answer  to  Gismonda's 
petition  to  be  absolved  from  her  vow  of  marriage  with  Almerio. 

The  news  is  bad.  The  Holy  Father  insists  that  Gismonda  keep  her  promise. 
There  is  but  one  escape.  If  she  will  not  be  the  bride  of  Almerio,  she  must  be  the 
spouse  of  Christ — a  nun  !  Gismonda  is  in  despair.  She  offers  bribes  to  the  Church. 
She  rails  against  it,  coaxes  it,  natters  it,  raves  again,  but  to  no  avail. 

The  Holy  Father  has  passed  the  verdict.  It  is  written.  The  calm  cloister  is  made 
noisy  with  the  discord  of  Gismonda's  grief.  All  her  promises  of  gold,  of  rich  gifts  to 
the  Church,  are  of  no  avail.  During  her  long  scene  with  the  Bishop,  she  finds  no 
loophole  for  escape  from  her  predicament.  Praying  that  night  may  bring  wiser  coun- 
sel, the  Bishop  leaves  her  with  Zaccaria. 

Gismonda,  saying  she  has  need  of  rest,  leaves  him  with  Leonarda. 

And  now,  sounds  of  Almerio's  triumphal  approach  are  heard.  The  populace  is 
bearing  him,  a  conquering  hero,  to  the  quiet  Benedictine  convent  where  Gismonda 
has  sought  rest. 

The  convent  inmates  fear  Almerio  will  take  Gismonda  away  by  force.  The  bar- 
ons, who  set  Almerio  on  to  his  march  against  the  pirates,  come  hurrying  to  the  con- 
vent. They  are  in  great  excitement. 


12  GISMONDA. 

A  oe  moment  les  sons  du  triomphe  d' Almerio  se  faisent  entendre.  Le  peuple  le 
conduit  en  Hero  victorieux,  an  paisible  convent  des  B6ne(lictins  que  protege  Gismonda. 

Les  internes  craint  qu' Almerio  ne  prendra  Gismonda  par  force.  Les  Barons  qui 
avaient  excites  Almerio  d'attaqner  les  corsaires  vient  au  convent  a  la  hate. 

Zacaria  et  les  Nobles,  ferment  soigneusement  les  portes  centre  la  foule. 

Troubled  par  le  vacarme,  Gismonda  parait. 

La  foule  crie  fortement,  "  Gloire  &  Almerio  !     Le  due  Alme'rio  1 " 

"  Due ! "  crie  Gismonda.     "  Pourquoi  Due  ?  " 

Stradella  un  capitaine  des  Gardes  Ducales  demande  au  peuple,  pourquoi  on  appelle 
Almerio  "  Due  "  et  qu'est-ce  qu'on  demande. 

"  Nous  demandons  de  parler  avec  la  Duchesse/'  on  repond. 

Gismonda  se  montre. 

"  Me  voici !  "  dit-elle ;  "  Mais  je  n'ouvre  vous  pas  les  portes.     Qu'y-a-t-il  ? " 

"  Nous  voulons  que  vous  parleriez  avec  Almerio."  ^ 

"  On  est-il  ?  " 

"  II  n'est  pas  present." 

"  Tant  mieux  pour  lui." 

A  ce  moment  Almerio  s'approche  a  cheval.  Stradella  le  voit  par  le  guichet  dc 
couvent. 

On  permet  qu'il  entre  le  couvent  seul,  les  portes  sont  fermees  apres  lui. 

Zacaria  dit,  tout  bas,  aux  autres :  "  Nous  le  tinons,  et  nous  le  garderons." 

Gismonda  demande  a  Almerio,  pourquoi  il  est  appelle  "  Due"  ? 

II  repond,  serienx  et  calme,  que  c'est  parce  qu'il  est  son  fiance. 

Les  Barons  sont  furieux.  Almerio  les  moque.  On  1'appele,  insolent,  aventu- 
rier,  rustre,  batard. 

"  Miserables,  vous  insultez  ma  mere !  "  et  il  tire  son  epee  avec  un  cri  de  rage. 

On  sebat.  Mais  Gismonda  les  arrete.  Elle  ordonne  Almerio  de  rendre  son  epee  a 
Stradella. 

Almerio  jette  son  epee  a  terre,  en  disant  qu'il  ne  savait  pas  que  c'etait  un  crime  de 
sauver  la  vie  a  son  enfant,  et  que  Dieu  sera  le  juge  entre  elle  et  lui. 

Zacaria  veut  qu'on  prenne  Almerio  et  lemette  en  prison,  mais  Gismonda  crie  :  "  Ne 
touchez  pas  a  cet  homme,  sa  personne  est  sacree."  Elle  ordonne  a  Strade'la  de  pro 
teger  Almerio,  et,  le  regardant  avec  orgueuil,  elle  dit :  "  Voila  un  homme  ! " 

KIDEAUX. 


GISMONDA.  13 

Zaccaria  and  the  barons  see  that  the  gates  are  tightly  closed  against  the  approach- 
ing procession.  Disturbed  by  the  noise,  Gismonda  appears.  By  this  time  the  crowd 
outside  is  calling,  "  Glory  to  Almerio,  Duke  Almerio  !  " 

"  Duke  ? "  exclaims  Gismonda.     "  Why  is  he  called  Duke  ? " 

Stradella,  a  Captain  in  the  service  of  the  Duchess,  asks  the  populace  why  they 
assemble  outside,  and  what  they  wish  ? 

"  We  want  a  word  with  the  Duchess,"  is  the  answer. 

Gismonda  reveals  herself  to  the  crowd. 

"  Here  I  am/'  she  says  ;  "  but  I  do  not  open  the  gates  for  you.     What  is  it  ? " 

"  We  want  you  to  speak  to  Almerio." 

"  Where  is  he?"  asks  Gismonda. 

"  Not  here !  " 

"  Ah,  so  much  the  better  for  him,"  the  Duchess  answers. 

At  this  moment  Almerio  approaches  on  horseback.  Stradella  sees  him  through 
the  convent  wicket. 

Alone,  they  allow  him  to  enter  the  convent ;  the  gates  are  tightly  closed  behind 
him. 

At  the  sight  of  Almerio,  Zaccaria  says,  aside  to  the  others,  "We'll  keep  him.*' 

Gismonda  asks  Almerio  why  he  is  called  "  Duke."  He  replies,  calmly  and  seriously, 
that  it  is  on  account  of  his  beino;  her  affianced  husband. 

o 

The  barons  are  furious.  Almerio  jests  with  them  ;  he  does  not  notice  their  scorn 
until  they  call  him  insolent,  an  adventurer,  a  peasant,  an  illegitimate  child. 

"  You  curs,  you've  attacked  my  mother  !  " 

With  a  cry  he  seizes  a  sword.    All  draw  their  swords. 

'4  Stop !  "  Gismonda  commands.  She  orders  Almerio  to  give  up  his  sword  to 
Stradella. 

Almerio,  saying  he  did  not  know  it  was  such  a  sin  to  save  her  child's  life — that 
God  shall  judge — dashes  his  sword  down  at  Stradella's  feet. 

Zaccaria  cries  out  that  Almerio  must  bs  taken  prisoner. 

Gismonda  exclaims :  "  Do  not  put  your  linger  on  that  man,  do  not  touch  him.  He 
is  sacred  ! " 

She  orders  Stradella  to  protect  Almerio. 
There  is  a  man  ! "  she  says,  looking  at  Almerio  with  pride. 


14  GISMONDA. 


ACTE  TKOISlfcME. 

Dans  cet  acte  le  theatre  repre"sente  la  chambre  a  coucher  de  Gismonda.  Par  la 
fenetre  on  voit  le  golfe  froid  Ege"anne. 

Au  lever  du  rideau,  Agnello,  Bridas,  Stradella,  Montaxas,  Simonetti,  Tiberio, 
Androlini  et  d'autres  personnes  parlent  vivement. 

Cypriella  les  prie  de  moderer  leur  voix,  de  peur  de  troubler  le  sommeil  de  1'enfant 
Francesco,  qui  est  malade  et  qui  dort  dans  un  alcove  voisine. 

Le  medecin  doit  venir  en  peu  de  temps. 

Basiliades  est  non  seulement  physicien  mais  astroque  aussi,  un  homme  de  signes  et 
d'augures. 

Gismonda  est  aussi  inquiete  que  son  fils  elle  a  besoin  de  conseil,  de  support,  de 
quelque  chose  pour  1'aider  dans  son  trouble.  Simonetti  dit,  tout  bas,  que  le  peuple 
Athenien  est  mecontent  que  leur  Duchesse  ne  tienne  pas  sa  promesse  et  leur  sympathie 
est  avec  Almerio.  Les  barons  se  moquent  du  fauconnier  et  le  condamne  d'arrogance. 

Le  m^decin  vient,  et  Gismonda  sort  de  1'alcove  pour  le  recevoir.  Agnello  emmene 
les  autres  et  tout  le  monde  sort  excepte  Thisbe  et  Cypriella  qui  reste  avec  Gismonda  et 
le  medecin. 

"  L' enfant  et  la  mere  sont  malades  tous  les  deux,"  dit  Gismonda.  "  Je  ne  dors  pas. 
Je  ne  me  repose  point.  Je  suis  hante  par ..." 

"  Almerio !  "  le  docteur  suggere. 

"  Oui,"  dit  Gismonda — elle  voit  Almerio,  dans  ses  pensees,  au  pied  de  son  lit,  quand 
elle  veut  dormir.  Ses  yeux  graves  regardent  fixement  les  siens.  Son  nom  Jui  est 
devenu  odieux. 

Le  medecin  pense  que  c'est  sa  conscience  qui  trouble  Gismonda.  II  conseille  la 
priere  au  lieu  des  drogues,  et  ne  pouvant  1'aider  il  prend  conge  et  part. 

Thisbe,  qui  a  vu  Almerio,  dit  a  Gismonda  qu'il  est  toujours  determine  a  demander 
sa  main. 

"  Deux  jours  de  prison  souterraine  n'ont  pas  done  lui  portes  conseille  ?  "  demande 
Gismonda. 

"  Non  !  "  lui  repond  Thisbe.  II  dit,  "  Je  suis  plus  libre  qu'est  ma  maitresse,  mon 
corps  est  captif  mais  je  tiens  son  ame  en  esclavage." 

"  C'est  vrai !  "  admet  Gismonda.    "  Tout  a  fait  vrai." 

Elle  ordonne  a  Simonetti  de  liberer  Almerio,  et  il  est  amene,  sous  garde  a  sa 
presence. 

A  ce  moment  Gregorez  vient  annoncer  Zacaria,  Stradella  et  les  autres. 

Zacaria  rapport  que  le  peuple  est  paisible,  les  rues  desertees  et  les  maisons  fermees 
pour  la  nuit.  II  n'y  a  rien  a  craindre  le  soir,  mais  le  matin  !  Ah  !  c'est  autre  chose. 
Ce  serait  un  jour  de  fete,  et  Zacaria  craint  que  les  bouffons  ne  liberent  Almerio.  Sans 
doute  la  Duchesse  a  assez  de  soldats  pour  la  proteger,  mais  il-y-a  des  Grecques  dans 
les  rangs  et  ceux-ci  peut-etre  seraient  infideles  et  traitres. 


GISMONDA  15 


ACT  III. 

This  act  shows  a  room  in  the  interior  of  Gismonda's  palace — her  private  sleeping 
apartment.  Through  the  window  one  catches  a  glimpse  of  the  cold  JEgean  Gulf.  As 
the  curtain  rises  Agnello,  Bridas,  Stradella,  Mataxes,  Simonetti,  Siberio,  Androlini 
and  others  are  talking  loudly. 

Cypriella  begs  them  to  lower  their  voices  lest  they  disturb  the  little  child  Fran- 
cesco, who  is  ill  and  sleeps  in  an  alcove  near  by.  The  physician  is  expected.  Basiliardes 
is  not  only  a  physician,  but  an  astrologer,  a  man  of  signs  and  omens. 

Gismonda  is  as  restless  as  her  child.     She  wishes  for  advice — something  to  help  her 
out  of  her  present  difficulty. 

Aimonetti,  in  a  lower  voice,  says  that  the  Athenian  populace  is  not  pleased  that 
their  Duchess  does  not  keep  her  vow.  The  sympathy  of  the  people  is  with  Almerio. 
The  barons,  Gismonda's  followers,  jeer  at  the  falconer's  presumption. 

The  physician  is  announced.     Gismonda  comes  from  the  alcove  to  receive  him. 

Agnello  leads  the  way,  and  all  go  save  Thisbe  and  Cypriella,  who  remain  with  Gis- 
monda and  the  Doctor. 

"  Not  only  the  child  is  ill,  but  the  mother  as  well.  I  do  not  sleep.  I  cannot  rest," 
Gismonda  says.  "  I  am  haunted  by— 

"  Almerio  ?  "  suggests  the  Doctor. 

"  Yes,"  Gismonda  answers.  She  sees  Almerio  everywhere— in  her  fancy.  At  the 
foot  of  her  bed,  when  she  would  sleep,  his  grave  eyes  look  steadily  into  hers.  She 
has  learned  to  loathe  his  very  name.  He  is  odious  to  her. 

The  physician  thinks  it  is  conscience  that  is  troubling  Gismonda  ;  he  advises  prayer 
rather  than  medicine.  He  can  be  of  no  assistance,  and  bidding  her  reflect  on  her 
broken  vow,  he  leaves  her. 

Thisbe,  who  has  seen  Almerio,  tells  Gismonda  that  he  is  still  determined. 

"  Two  days  in  a  dark  underground  prison  has  not  influenced  him?"  questions  Gis- 
monda. 

"  No,"  answers  Thisbe  ;  "  he  says  '  I  am  more  free  than  my  mistress.  My  body  is 
in  captivity,  but  I  hold  her  soul  enslaved.' ' 

"  It's  true,"  Gismonda  admits,  "  quite  true." 

She  orders  Simonetti  to  see  that  Almerio  is  released  and,  under  a  guard,  brought 
before  her. 

At  this  moment  Gregorez  appears  to  announce  Zaccaria,  Stradella  and  others. 

Zaccaria  announces  that  all  is  quiet  among  the  populace ;  the  streets  are  deserted 
and  the  houses  shut  up  for  the  night.  No  outbreak  from  the  angry  people  may  be 
expected  that  evening,  but  the  morrow  may  tell  another  story.  It  is  to  be  the  big  feast- 
day  for  the  Greeks.  Zaccaria  fears  the  merrymakers  will  by  force  release  Almerio  from 
his  captivity.  True,  the  Duchess  has  soldiers  enough  to  defend  her,  but  many  of  them 
are  Greeks,  and  they  may  not  prove  faithful  to  their  charge. 


16  GISMONDA. 

Stradella  a  renforce"  les  gardes,  et  tout  est  prepaid  centre  une  attoque  eur  le  palais. 

Zacaria  conseille  a  Gismonda  de  proclamer  qu'au  premier  signal  d'ure  emeute  elle 
ferait  executer  Almerio,  et  montrer  sa  tete  sur  les  ramparts  du  chdteau. 

Gismonda  refuse.  L'avis  de  Stradella  est  de  bannir  Almerio,  et  It'  condamner 
a  mort  e'il  revient. 

"  Et  1'eglise  ?  mon  voeu  ?    Dieu  ? "  Gismonda  demande. 

Lusignan  a  un  autre  dessein  pour  vaincre  le  malheureux  fauconnie/;  e'est  que 
Almerio  ayant  insulte  les  Barons  reparerait  sa  faute  en  se  battant  avec  le?  quatre 
gentilshommes — 1'un  apres  1'autre. 

"  Mais  c'est  1'assassiner !  "  dit  Gismonda,  avec  indignation.  "  Yoa  lowseils  ne 
m'aident  pas.  II  faut  que  je  trouve  moi-meme  une  sortie  de  cette  affaire.  Cette 
nuit  meme  je  deciderai  le  cas  pendant  entre  Almerio  et  moi.  Demain  j'annoncerai 
publiquement  ma  determination.  Stradella !  proclame  cela  a  mes  sujets."  Stradella 
1'assure  qu'il  1'obeira,  et  elle  les  congedie. 

Quand  Zacaria  passe  pres  de  Gregoras,  qui  est  encore  au  service  de  Gismonda, 
il  Ini  dit  de  bien  guetter  tout  ce  que  se  passe  autour  de  lui.  Gregoras  est  toujours 
Ii6  avec  le  ruse  Zacaria. 

Thisbe  et  Cypriella  introduisent  Almerio  dans  la  chambre  de  Grismonda  a  la  derobee. 
Gismonda  le  traite  gracieuseraent,  et  elle  remarque  qu'il  est  tres  beau.  Elle  Jui 
dit  qu'elle  1'a  fait  imprisonner  pour  le  soustraire  a  la  fureur  des  Barons. 

11  doit  avoir  froid.  Cypriella  lui  apportera  du  vin  de  Syracuse,  et  elle  le  ser- 
vira  avec  ses  propres  mains.  II  hesite  a  boire  parcequ'il  craint  que  le  vin  est  em- 
poisonne.  Mais,  pour  le  rassurer,  Gismonda  en  boit  la  premiere. 

Cherchant  1'endroit  ou  ses  levres  ont  touche,  Almerio  vide  le  flacon. 

Gismonda  congedie  Cypriella. 

Enfin  Almerio  se  trouve  seul  avec  la  femme  qu'il  aime.  Le  fauconnier  et  la 
duchesse  sont  tete  a  tete  ! 

"  Yous  etes  Venitien  ? "  Gismonda  commence  finement  et  doucement.  "  Yotre 
naissance  est  ignoble,  mais  quel  bonheur  que  vous  avez  eu  la  bonne  fortune  de 
sauver  la  vie  de  mon  enfant.  Cela  vous  prof  tera  beaucoup." 

Almerio  lui  fait  souvenir  qu'il  est  le  Comte  de  Soula. 

"  C'est  tres  bien,"  dit  la  rusee  Duchesse,  avec  patience.  "  Mais  c'est  impossible 
de  garder  mon  voeu.  Je  vous  donnerai  la  baronie  de  Caritena  et  une  forte  somme 
en  or.  Et  de  plus,  vous  avez  vu  Cypriella!  elle  vous  aime,  et  je  vous  la  donnerai 
pour  femme  et  j'aurai  soin  de  votre  bonheur  !  " 

"  Je  boirai  a  mon  f  utur  bonheur !  "  repond  Almerio.  "  Mais  ce  sera  avec  vous. 
Je  ne  veux  pas  me  marier  avec  une  autre  ! " 

'*  N'est-elle  pas  assez  gentil  ? "  Gismonda  demande,  avec  gaite  un  peu  sarcastique. 

"  Ah !  oui,  elle  est  tres  bien,  mais  elle  n'est  pas  vous  ! "  dit  Almerio. 

"  Eh  bien  !  dites  moi  votre  prix  !  " 

Son  prix,  c'est  vous-meme,  pas  d'autre. 

Gismonda  lui  conseille  de  prendre  garde.     II  est  trop  hardi. 


GISMONDA.  17 

Stradella  has  doubled  the  guards  and  is  prepared  for  the  attack. 

Zaccaria  advises  Gismonda  to  proclaim  that  on  the  first  sounds  of  riot  she  will  cause 
Almerio  to  be  executed  and  his  head  shown  on  the  castle  ramparts. 

Gismonda  refuses. 

Stradella  advises  her  to  vanquish  Almerio  and  to  pronounce  the  sentence  of  death 
upon  his  return. 

"  And  the  Church,  God,  my  vow  ? "  asks  the  Duchess.     "  What  of  them  ? " 

Lusignan  has  another  plan  to  vanquish  the  unhappy  falconer.  It  is  this :  As  Al- 
merio has  insulted  four  barons,  let  him  make  reparation  by  fighting  the  four,  one  after 
the  other. 

"  That's  assassination,"  Gismonda  says  indignantly.  "  Nothing  short  of  it.  Your 
advice,"  she  continues,  "  does  not  help  me.  I  must  find  the  way  out  of  this  matter 
alone  and  as  I  think  best  ;  this  very  night  shall  decide  the  case  pending  between  Almerio 
and  me.  To-morrow  I  shall  publicly  announce  my  decision.  Let  the  fact  be  made 
public,  Stradella." 

Stradella  assures  her  that  he  will  do  her  bidding. 

She  dismisses  them. 

As  Zaccaria  passes  Gregorez,  who  is  once  more  pressed  into  service  with  Gismonda, 
he  warns  him  to  keep  his  eyes  well  open  to  all  that  goes  on  about  him. 

Gregorez  is  still  in  league  with  the  crafty  Zaccaria. 

Thisbe  and  Cypriella  smuggle  Almerio  quietly  into  Gismonda's  apartment. 

Gismonda  receives  him  graciously.  She  notices  that  he  is  very  handsome.  She 
tells  him  how  she  has  imprisoned  him  to  keep  him  out  of  harm's  way,  as  the  barons 
were  so  furious  at  his  insult. 

He  must  be  cold  from  being  in  a  dungeon.  Cypriella  shall  bring  him  Syracuse  wine. 
Gismonda  insists  on  serving  him  herself. 

He  hesitates  to  drink.  Gismonda,  to  reassure  him,  for  Almerio  thinks  it  very  likely 
the  wine  is  poisoned,  drinks  first  herself. 

Finding  the  spot  her  lips  have  touched,  Almerio  drains  the  flagon. 

Gismonda  dismisses  Cypriella. 

At  last  Almerio  is  alone  with  the  woman  he  loves.  The  falconer  and  the  Duchess 
are  en  tete-a-tete. 

"  You  are  a  Venetian,"  Gismonda  begins  craftily  and  sweetly.  "  You  are  of  ignoble 
birth,  but  what  good  fortune  that  you  have  been  lucky  enough  to  save  my  child's  life ! 
It  will,  of  course,  be  a  source  of  great  profit  to  you." 

Almerio  reminds  her  that  he  is  the  Count  of  Sonla. 

"  Be  that  as  it  may,"  the  wily  Duchess  says  patiently,  "  you  are  what  you  are,  and, 
in  short,  I  cannot  keep  my  vow  ;  but  I  will  bestow  upon  you  the  barony  of  Caritena 
and  a  large  sum  of  gold.  That  isn't  all  ....  You've  seen  Cypriella,  pretty 
Cypriella,  who  just  served  me  ?  Well,  she  likes  you  very  much.  I'll  give  her  to  you ; 
and  luck  to  your  happiness  !  " 

"  I'll  drink  to  my  happiness,"  Almerio  answers,  "  but  it  will  be  with  you.  I  will 
not  marry  anyone  else." 


18  GISMONDA. 

"Si  vous  n'etes  pas  plus  raisonnable,  je  serais  force  d'appeler  un  de  mes  gens, 
et  de  finir  avec  vous  !  " 

Alme'rio  n'a  pas  peur ;  il  lui  fait  remarquer  que  son  sang  aura  coule  a  cause 
de  son  enfant  si  elle  poursuit  sa  menace. 

"  C'est  vrai,"  admet  Gismonda. 

Alme'rio  dit  qu'il  n'avait  pas  sauve"  1'enfant  pour  se  faire  Due  d'Athenes,  mais 
tout  simplement  pour  1'amour  d'elle-meme  ! 

"  Suis-je  done  une  ingrate  ? "     La  duchesse  commence  a  questionner  son  attitude 
envers  le  beau  Alm6rio. 

De  temps  en  temps  quand  il  parle  avec  trop  d'eloquence,  elle  menace  d'appeller  un 
de  ses  gens ;  mais  elle  ne  fait  pas.  Almerio  sait  bien  qu'elle  ne  le  fera  pas. 

"  Gardez  votre  couronne ! "  dit-il ;  "  je  ne  la  veux  pas.  C'est  vous-meme  que 
j'aime.  Je  renonce  &  mon  duche  et  mes  noces.  Je  vous  aime — c'est  tout." 

Gismonda  promet  de  donner  son  amour  &  Alme'rio  s'il  renonce  publiquement  4 
sa  promesse  de  la  marier. 

"  Mais  !  vous  me  chasserez  !  "  dit  Almerio,  avec  doute. 

"  Je  crains  vos  promesses." 

"  Je  le  jure  !     Deraain  relevez-moi  de  mon  voeu,  et  je  jure  que  je  vous  aimerai." 

"  Je  le  jure  !  "  repond  Almerio. 

Gismonda  1'a  vaincu.  II  resigne  tout — son  duche,  sa  fortune,  son  avenir.  II  n'a 
que  sa  promesse  de  femme  comme  garentie. 

"  Vous  le  jurez  !  "  crie  Gismonda,  avec  joie  !  Sa  diplomatic,  sa  cajolerie,  ses  mots 
tendres,  sont  recompenses.  Mais  elle  est  touchee  par  la  vigueur  d' Almerio,  par  son 
hardiesse,  sa  beaute  masculine. 

"  Vous  promettez  !  Allez  vous  en  tout  de  suite."  Elle  montre  la  route  qu' Almerio 
doit  prendre  sans  etre  apercu. 

"  Voil& ;  qu'est-ce  que  je  vous  ai  dit  ?  vous  me  chassez,"  dit  Almerio,  en  desespoir. 
"  Ah !  ne  me  chassez  pas  !  Je  vous  aime !  " 

"  Retirez  vous  chez  vous  tout  de  suite,"  dit  Gismonda,  "  et  laissez  votre  porte 
ouverte." 


GISMONDA.  19 

"  Isn't  she  nice  enough  ? "  Gismonda  asks  in  playful  sarcasm. 

"  Yes,  but  she  isn't  you,"  Almerio  says,  unmoved  by  the  splendors  of  the  pro- 
posed union. 

"  Set  your  own  price,  then,"  the  Duchess1  remarks.  Almerio's  price  is  herself  and 
nothing  more — no  one,  but  herself. 

Gismonda  warns  him  to  be  careful.     He  is  too  daring  to  suit  the  proud  Duchess. 

"  If  you  are  not  more  reasonable  in  your  demands,  I  shall  call  one  of  my  men  and 
make  an  end  of  you/' 

Almerio  is  not  alarmed  ;  he  reminds  her  that  his  blood  would  be  shed  in  her  child's 
cause,  in  case  she  carries  out  her  threat. 

"  True,"  Gismonda  admits.  Almerio  says  that  he  did  not  save  the  child  for  the 
sake  of  being  made  Duke  of  Athens  ;  he  risked  his  life  simply  to  win  her. 

"  Am  I  ungrateful  ? "  The  Duchess  is  beginning  to  question  her  attitude  towards 
the  very  handsome  Almerio. 

Occasionally  she  threatens  to  call  an  attendant,  when  he  grows  too  eloquent ;  but 
she  does  not.  Almerio  knows  she  will  not. 

"  Keep  your  crown,"  he  says ;  "  I  will  not  ask  it.  It  is  only  you  I  love.  I  re- 
nounce my  dukedom  and  marriage — only  let  me  love  you  !  " 

Gismonda  agrees  that  if  Almerio  will  publicly  absolve  her  from  her  vow,  she  will 
reward  him  by  being  his  love,  but  not  his  wife. 

"  If  I  promise  that,  you'll  order  me  away,"  Almerio  says,  doubtfully.  "  I  am  afraid 
of  your  vows." 

"You  must  promise,  blindly,  and  trust  to  my  word.  To-morrow,  release  me 
publicly  from  my  oath  ;  after,  I  swear  you  shall  not  regret  it.  .  Promise !  Swear  it ! 
Swear  it ! " 

"  I  swear !  "  Almerio  replies. 

Gismonda  has  conquered  him.  He  gives  up  everything — his  dukedom,  his  fortune, 
his  future — for  her  mere  word.  He  has  only  her  woman's  word  to  trust  to. 

"  You  promise  ? "  Gismonda  exclaims,  joyfully. 

She  is  rewarded  for  her  gracious  interview,  her  diplomacy,  her  flattering,  her  pity, 
her  tender  words.  But  she  is  not  untouched  by  Almerio's  strength,  his  daring,  his 
manly  beauty. 

"  You  promise  ?  Then  go  !  Go  now,  at  once  !  "  She  points  out  the  way  for 
Almerio  to  take  himself  off  unseen. 

"  There !  What  did  I  say  ?  I  told  you  as  soon  as  you  got  my  promise,  you'd  put 
me  out,"  Almerio  cries  in  angry  despair.  "  Don't  send  me  away,  I  love  you  !  " 

"  Go  home,  at  once,"  Gismonda  answers,  firmly — "  and  leave  your  door  open  !" 


20  GISMONDA. 


ACTE  QUATRlkME. 

La  lune  brille  BUT  les  raines  d'un  ancien  temple  pres  de  la  cabane  d'Alme'rio  qui 
est  au  devant. 

Gismonda  a  term  sa  promesse. 

Thisbe  a  fait  le  guet  sous  1'ombrage  d'un  cypres — un  arbre  solennel.  Elle  a  suivie 
Gismonda  sans  ordre.  Ses  yeux  regardent  la  porte  de  la  cabane  d'  Almerio  en  attendant 
le  retour  de  la  duchesse. 

Enfin  Gismonda  sort  en  disant  adieu  a  Almerio.  "  Qui  est  la  ? "  elle  demande,  en 
regardant  la  forme  de  Thisbe. 

"  C'est  moi,"  repond  Thisbe,  tout  bas.  "  Je  vous%  ai  suivi,  arme  d'un  couteau. 
J'avais  peur  de  vous  laisser  seule  dans  ces  ruines." 

Gismonda,  qui  a  espere  de  gagner  son  palais  sans  etre  vu,  est  tres  fache.  Elle  voit 
clairement  le  danger  et,  apres  tout,  son  absence  a  ete  remarquee.  Elle  ordonne  a 
Thisbe  de  se  rendre  au  palais,  mais  Thisbe  hesite  de  1'obeir 

Gismonda  confesse  qu'elle  aime  Almerio,  qu'elle  1'a  suivie,  et  qu'il  a  renonce  a  sa 
main. 

La  bonne  Thisbe  est  d'avis  qu'on  doit  se  marier.  "  Yotre  coeur  est  a  lui,"  elle 
ajoute  avec  sagesse. 

"  Oui,"  dit  Gismonda,  "  mon  4me  et  mon  corps  sont  a  lui,  et  je  me  meprise  pour 
ma  folie." 

L'aube  commence  a  paraitre.  Thisbe  regarde  autour  d'elle  pour  voir  si  la  ronte  est 
vide.  Deux  hommes — Zacaria  et  Gregorez  approchent. 

Gismonda  croit  qu'ils  viennent  a  ce  lieu  desert  pour  lui  faire  du  mal ;  elle  se  cache, 
avec  Thisbe,  derriere  un  cypres.  Gregorez  et  Zacaria  cherchent  la  cabane,  et  Gregoras 
la  montre. 

La  porte  est  ouverte ;  il  y  jette  un  coup  d'oeil.  "Oui,"  ditil,  "Alme'rio  s'est 
couche,  tout  habille  ;  l'appelerai-je  ?  " 

Ce  n'est  pas  comme  ga  que  Zacharia  rencontre  un  ennemi,  en  face.  II  aime  le 
poignarder  a  Tecart,  dans  les  tenebres,  et  par  la  main  d'un  complice,  pendant  qu'il 
e'occupe  des  details  du  complot. 

Gismonda  se  sent  si  enragee  qu'elle  veut  tomber  sur  Zacaria,  mais  la  prudente 
Thisbe  1'arrete,  pour  mieux  entendre. 

"  Si  je  ne  1'avait  vu  dans  le  pints  avec  le  tigre  ?  "  Gregoras  pense.  "  II  1'a  eflraye. 
Suis-je  plus  courageux  qu'un  tigre  ?  " 

"  Un  homme  qui  dort  ne  donne  pas  de  peine,"  dit  Zacaria. 

"  II  est  plus  facile  de  pousser  un  enfant  dans  un  trou  que  de  tuer  un  homme,  $rand 
et  fort  comme  Almerio." 

Gismonda  s'elance  vers  Gregorez  encore,  mais  Thisbe  la  retient.     GreVorez  r4no??ce 


GISMONDA.  21 


ACT  IY. 

The  moon  shines  down  on  the  ruins  of  an  old  temple  near  Almerio's  cabin,  which  is 
in  the  foreground. 

Gisinonda  has  kept  her  promise. 

Under  a  solemn  cypress-tree  Thisbe  keeps  watch.  She  has,  unbidden,  followed 
Gisinonda ;  her  eyes  are  fixed  on  the  cabin  door,  awaiting  Gismonda's  reappearance. 

At  length,  the  Duchess  comes  out  of  the  hut,  bidding  Almerio  farewell. 

"  Who  is  there  ? "  she  asks,  as  she  notices  a  figure  close  at  hand. 

"  I,"  Thisbe  answers,  softly.  "  I,  Gismonda.  I  followed  you  armed  with  a  knife. 
I  was  afraid  to  let  you  come  alone  to  these  ruins." 

Gismonda,  \vho  has  hoped  to  reach  the  palace  without  being  seen,  is  very  much 
annoyed.  She  realizes  fully  what  a  risk  she  runs,  and,  after  all,  she  has  been  missed. 
She  bids  Thisbe  return,  but  Thisbe  hesitates  to  leave  her.  Gismonda  confesses  that 
she  is  fond  of  Almerio,  that  she  followed  him  to  his  cabin,  and  that  he  has  generously 
renounced  her  hand. 

The  good  Thisbe  recommends  a  union  between  the  two.  She  has  always  approved 
of  Almerio.  "  Your  soul  is  in  his  keeping,"  she  adds,  wisely. 

"  Yes,  body  and  soul,  I  am  his  ;  and  I  hate  myself  for  it,"  Gismonda  confesses. 

Already  the  dawn  is  breaking.  Thisbe  looks  to  see  if  the  way  be  clear  of  people. 
She  sees  two  men  approaching — Gregorez  and  Zaccaria. 

Gismonda  is  certain  they  have  some  bad  object  in  coming  to  this  lonely  spot,  she 
hides  behind  the  cypress-trees,  together  with  Thisbe. 

Gregorez  and  Zaccaria  are  seeking  for  Almerioi's  hut.  Gregorez  points  it  out.  The 
door  is  open.  Gregorez  looks  in.  "  Yes,"  he  says,  "  he  is  lying,  fully  dressed,  on 
his  bed." 

"  Shall  I  call  him  ? "  asks  the  stupid  Gregorez. 

This  is  not  Zaccaria's  way  of  meeting  a  foe — in  the  field,  face  to  face — he  prefers 
to  stab  in  the  dark.  That  is  his  method  of  attack.  Also,  he  prefers  an  accomplice  to 
do  the  actual  murder  ;  he  himself  attends  to  the  planning  and  the  details  of  the  plot. 

Gismonda  is  filled  with  such  fury  as  Zaccaria  gives  vent  to  his  strategy  that  she 
longs  to  rush  upon  him,  but  the  prudent  Thisbe  holds  her  back,  to  listen  further. 

"  If  I  had  not  seen  him — in  the  tiger  pit,"  Gregorez  reflects,  timidly;  "  he  frightened 
the  tiger.     Am  I  more  than  a  tiger  ? " 

"  A  sleeping  man  is  no  trouble  at  all,"  Zaccaria  urges. 

"  It's  easy  to  talk,"  Gregorez  answers,  "  but  it  was  easier  to  push  the  child  into  the 
tiger's  pit  than  to  kill  a  big  strong  fellow  like  this  Almerio !  " 

Again  Gismonda  starts  to  fall  upon  Zaccaria,  but  Thisbe  draws  her  back.  Gregorez 
gives  up  the  undertaking.  He  is  afraid.  He  throws  the  hatchet  down,  and  Thisbe, 


22  GISMONDA. 

a  1'affaire.  II  a  peur.  II  quitte  la  h&che  et  Thisb6  la  ramasse.  Gismonda  et  Thisbe" 
approche  la  cabane  avec  precaution. 

Zacaria  offre  une  fortune  a  Gregorez  s'il  tue  Almerio,  mais  il  refuse  et  s'enfuit  a 
la  hate. 

"  Ya,  done,  lache  !  "  Zacaria  crie,  "  et  quand  j'aurai  fini  avec  Alme"rio,  je  tuerai 
1'enfant  sans  votre  aide." 

"  Et  la  mere  aussi."  crie  Gismonda,  levant  la  hache  au-dessus  de  la  tete  de  Zacaria, 
et  le  frappant — "  Vous  avez  donne  mon  fils  au  tigre  ;  je  vous  donne  a  1'enfer !  " 

Almerio  parait,  au  son  des  cris  de  Gismonda. 

Gismonda  le  prie  de  garder  Zacaria  en  lui  disant  que  c'est  lui  qui  veut  tuer  son  fils. 

"  C'est  dommage  de  le  laisser  en  agonie,"  dit  Almerio.  "  Permettez  que  je  lui 
donne  le  coup  de  grace." 

"  Non  ;  votre  epee  est  trop  clement ;  qu'il  souffre."  Gismonda  est  inflexible.  Elle 
veut  que  Zacaria  meurt  lentement,  par  degres,  en  souffrance,  sans  confession. 

"  Voyez  Zacaria !  "  elle  dit.     "  Pouvez-vous  me  voir  ?  pouvez-vous  m'entendre  ? " 

"  Oui,  je  vous  entend,"  il  repond. 

Gismonda  embrasse  Almerio ;  elle  veut  que  Zacaria  soit  temoin  du  triomphe  de 
1'homme  qu'il  a  tente  d'assasiner. 

"  Je  lui  appartiens,"  elle  explique  au  moribond.    "  Je  suis  a  lui." 

Poussant  un  cri  de  rage  impuissante,  Zacaria  meurt. 

Gismonda  ordonne  que  son  corps  soit  jete  dans  un  ravin,  "  pour  que  les  corbeaux 
soient  les  seuls  temoins  de  sa  fin  !  " 

"  Et,  maintenant,  Thisbe  m'accompagnera  au  palais.  Sou venez- vous  de  votre  pro- 
messe.  Demain,  Almerio,  a  1'eglise  vous  renoncez  a  moi.  Adieu,  tout  est  fini  entre 
nous.  Adieu." 


Le  seconde  tableau  du  dernier  acte  se  passe  dans  1'eglise  de  St.  Marie. 

Les  cloches  va  sonner,  la  cortege  vient,  et  le  choeur  chante  un  canticle. 

Spiridion  et  Pericles — un  massier  et  un  choriste  parlent  avec  Cristofero,  un  sacris- 
tan. 

Pericles  se  hatant  a  joindre  le  chceur,  quitte  le  sacristan  et  Spiridion  pour  discuter 
avec  Stradella  la  question  de  1'assassinat  de  Zacaria.  Le  cadavre  a  ete  decouvert  et 
porte  dans  1'eglise,  afin  qu'on  puisse  chanter  des  messes  pour  le  repos  de  son  ame. 

Ce  fut  Stradella  qui  decouvrait  Zacaria  dans  le  coin  ou  Almerio  1'avait  jete,  apres  le 
depart  de  Gismonda. 

Le  cortege  approche.  Le  sacristan  fait  cacher  le  cadavre  pour  eviter  sa  vue  aux 
assistants. 

Personne  ne  soupyonne  qui  Gismonda  1'a  tue". 

Le  sacristan  a  entendu  que  Zacaria  etait  renegade  et  lie  avec  les  Turcs.  On  n'aime 
pas  sa  memoire. 

Le  cortege  de  Gismonda  entre.  Thisbe  et  Gismonda  1'accompagnent  avec  Agnello  et 


GISMONDA.  23 

unseen  by  him,  picks  it  up.  Gismonda  and  Thisbe  begin  to  edge  cautiously  toward  the 
cabin. 

Zaccaria  offers  a  fortune  to  Gregorez  if  he  will  kill  Almerio,  but  Gregorez  is  afraid. 
He  disappears,  and  goes  back  to  the  palace  as  fast  as  he  can  run. 

"  Go,  then,  you  coward  ! "  Zaccaria  exclaims,  "  and  when  I'm  done  with  Almerio 
I'll  despatch  the  child  without  any  help  from  you." 

"  And  the  mother,"  Gismonda  screams,  with  the  hatchet  raised  over  Zaccaria's 
head.  "  You  sent  my  son  to  the  tiger — I'll  send  you  to — Hell !  " 

Aroused  by  the  cries,  Almerio  appears. 

Gismonda  begs  Almerio  to  watch  Zaccaria.  She  tells  him  it  was  Zaccaria  who  tried 
kill  her  boy. 

"  'Tis  a  pity  to  see  him  in  agony  ;  let  me  finish  him,"  Almerio  suggests. 

"  No,  no,  your  sword  is  too  merciful — let  him  suffer."  Gismonda  is  reientless. 
She  wants  Zaccaria  to  die  slowly,  in  pain,  without  confession.  "  Look,  Zaccaria,  can 
you  see  me — hear  me  ? " 

"  I  hear,"  he  answers.  Then  Gismonda  throws  her  arms  about  Almerio.  She  wants 
Zaccaria  to  witness  the  triumph  of  the  man  whose  life  he  has  sought.  "  I  belong  to 
him,"  Gismonda  explains  to  the  dying  man  ;  "I  am  his." 

With  a  fearful  cry  of  impotent  rage  Zaccaria  dies. 

Gismonda  orders  him  to  be  thrown  into  a  ravine  that  the  crows  may  be  the  only 
witnesses  of  his  dissolution. 

"  And  now,  Thisbe  will  take  me  back  to  the  palace.  Remember  your  promise  to- 
morrow, Almerio.  At  the  church  you  must  renounce  me.  Remember  your  promise. 
Farewell.  All — all  is  over  between  us!  I've  kept  my  word.  Now,  keep  yours. 
Farewell ! " 

The  second  tableau  of  the  last  act  takes  place  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary.  The  chimes 
are  about  to  be  rung  in  the  opening  of  this  scene.  They  announce  the  procession  com- 
ing in  state  from  the  palace.  The  choir  is  heard  singing  a  canticle. 

Spiridion  and  Pericles,  a  mace-  bearer,  and  a  choir-boy  are  talking  with  Christofano, 
a  sexton.  Pericles,  hurrying  away  to  join  his  choir,  leaves  the  sexton  and  Spiridion  to 
discuss  with  Stradella  the  question  of  Zaccaria's  assassination,  for  the  body  has  been 
discovered  and  brought  to  church  that  masses  may  be  said. 

It  was  Stradella  who  discovered  it  in  the  ravine,  where  Almerio  threw  it  after 
Gismonda' s  departure. 

The  court  procession  approaches.  The  sexton  orders  the  body  to  be  hidden  from 
view,  as  the  shock  might  be  sudden.  'No  one,  of  course,  suspects  that  Gismonda  took 
a  part  in  Zaccaria's  death.  Meanwhile,  the  sexton  has  heard  that  Zaccaria  is  a  renegade 
and  in  league  with  the  Turks.  Zaccaria's  memory  is  not  beloved. 

Gismonda's  train  now  enters.  Thisbe  and  Cypriella  are  with  her,  also  Agnello,  the 
Bishop,  Giustiniani,  Lusignan,  Crispo,  Simonetti,  Bridas,  Mataxas,  Stradella,  Andrioli, 
Tiberio,  Francesco,  the  child,  Leonarda,  Spiridion,  Christofano,  and  others. 


24  GISMONDA. 

1'Eveque.  Giustiniani,  Lusignan,  Crispo,  Simonetti,  Bridas,  Mataxas  et  Stradella,  An- 
dioti,  Tiberio,  1'enfant  Francesco-L£onarda,  Spiridion,  Cristofero,  etc. 

Simonetti  demande  pardon.  II  a  des  nouvelles  tristes  et  importantes,  la  mort  de 
Zacaria.  Pour  le  moment  Gismonda  est  inquiete,  mais  se  calmant,  elle  demande .  "  Un 
accident,  n'est-ce  pas  ? " 

"  Non  !  "  repond  Stradella,  "  c'est  un  assassinat ! " 

"  Qui  pent  le  prouver,"  demande  Gismonda. 

"  Gr6gorez !  "  repond  Stradella 

Gismonda  n'a  pas  cm  que  Gregorez  aurait  ose  parler  de  la  mort  de  Zacaria,  parce 
qu'il  etait  lui-meme  dans  une  position  dangereuse. 

"  Expliquez-vous  done  ?  "  demande-elle  avec  empressement. 

"  La  derniere  fois  que  Ton  a  vu,  il  etait  avec  Zacaria  et  il  est  revemi  seul.  J'ai  en- 
voye  deux  de  mes  gens  pour  le  chercher,"  dit  Stradella.  Apres  que  1'Eveque  a  donne 
sa  benediction,  le  peuple  vient  demander  a  Gismonda  d^ccomplir  son  vreu.  Le  faucon- 
nier  est,  apres  tout,  un  homme  du  peuple  et  on  ne  veut  pas  qu'on  le  meprise. 

"  Ouvrez  les  portes,"  commande  Gismonda.     "  Qu'on  entre." 

Les  Barons  sont  effrayes.  Lusignan  dit  qu'il  appartient  a  1'Eglise  Grecque  et  ne 
pent  pas  etre  admis  dans  1'Eglise  Catholique. 

"  Leur  Dieu  est  aussi  le  notre  qu'on  entre,"  dit  Gismonda. 

Almerio  entre  tristement.  II  va  renoncer  a  Gismonda,  la  seule  femme  qu'il  a 
jamais  aime.  Son  bonheur  a  disparu.  L'heure  de  triomphe  de  Gismonda  est  venu. 

L'Eveque  lui  donne  permission  de  parler.  "  Avant  que  je  part,  et  devant  Dieu,  je 
vous  cite  comme  temoins,  que  j'acquitte  ma  souveraine  honoree,  Gismonda,  de  son 
voau,  et  que  je  declare  qu'elle  est  libre  de  tout  obligation  envers  moi." 

Tout  le  monde  est  etonne. 

"  Ya-t-en,  mon  fils,"  poursuit  1'Eveque,  u  sois  sur  que  mes  prieres  et  la  benediction 
de  Dieu  seront  avec  toi." 

A  ce  moment,  Gregorez  est  amene  devant  Gismonda.  II  prie  1'Eveque  de  reprimer 
sa  benediction  a  Almerio.  "  II  est  1'assassin  de  Zacaria,"  Gregorez  dit.  "  II  1'a  tue  hier 
au  soir ! " 

Gismonda  te  regarde  fix^ment,  Almerio  reste  inebranlable  et  passif. 

Selon  Gregorez,  Zacaria  est  alle  visitor  Almerio  pour  le  prier  de  rompre  le  voau 
qu'il  a  jure  de  demander  la  main  de  Gismonda.  "  Moi-meme  je  1'ai  conduit  a  lacabane 
d' Almerio,"  il  dit,  u  et  les  aient  laisses  ensemble." 

Plus  tard  le  cadavre  de  Zacaria  f ut  trouve  dans  un  ravin  tout  pres  de  la  cabane  d' Al- 
merio. 

"  C'est  Almerio  qui  1'a  tu4  ? " 

"  Permettrez  vous  cela  ? "  demande  Thisbe  a  Gismonda,  apart. 

"  Ayez  patience  ! "  Gismonda  repond. 

L'Eveque  interroge  1'accuse  Almerio. 

"  C'est  vrai,''  repond-il.     "  J'ai  tue  Zacaria.     II  m'a  insulte  et  je  1'ai  assomme"." 

Les  Barons  demandent  a  Gismonda  quelle  punition  elle  adjugera  a  Almerio. 


GISMONDA.  25 

Simonetti  begs  the  pardon  of  all,  but  he  has  sad  and  important  news  to  announce 
to  the  court — the  death  of  Zaccaria. 

Gisinonda  for  a  moment  is  nervous,  but  growing  calm  she  asks,  "  An  accident  ?'* 

"  No,"  Stradella  answers,  "  murder." 

"  Who  can  prove  this  ? "  questions  Gismonda. 

"  Gregorez,"  Stradella  replies. 

This  is  unexpected.  Gismonda  has  not  thought  Gregorez  would  dare  make  men- 
tion of  Zaccaria's  death,  as  he  himself  is  in  so  delicate  a  position. 

"  How  is  this  ? — explain."     Gismonda  is  all  eagerness. 

"  He  was  last  seen  walking  with  Zaccaria.  He  came  back  alone.  I  have  sent  two 
of  rny  men  to  find  him,"  Stradella  explains.  When  the  Bishop  has  given  his  blessing 
the  populace  outside  demand  to  see  Gismonda.  Palms  in  hand,  the  people  come  to 
demand  Gismonda's  fulfillment  of  her  vow  to  the  falconer.  He  is,  after  all,  one  of 
them,  and  they  will  not  see  him  scorned. 

"  Open  the  gate  and  admit  them,"  Gismonda  says,  fearlessly.  The  barons  are  vis- 
ibly frightened.  Besides,  they  are  of  the  Greek  faith,  and  should  not  be  admitted  to 
the  Catholic  church,  says  Lustignan. 

"  Their  God  is  ours.     Let  them  in,"  Gismonda  insists. 

Almerio  enters  sadly.  He  is  about  to  fulfill  his  vow  and  give  up  the  only  woman 
he  has  ever  loved.  His  happiness  is  all  past  now ;  Gismonda 's  hour  of  triumph  is 
come. 

The  Bishop  gives  him  permission  to  speak. 

"  In  the  presence  of  God,  before  I  leave  this  place  forever,  1  call  you  all  to  witness 
that  I  absolve  my  honored  sovereign,  Gismonda,  and  I  declare  publicly  that  she  is 
relieved  from  any  further  obligation  to  me ! " 

All  are  amazed. 

"  Go,  my  son,"  says  the  Bishop,  "  and  my  prayers  and  the  blessing  of  God  go  with 
you." 

At  this  moment,  Gregorez  is  brought  before  Gismonda.  He  begs  the  Bishop  to 
refrain  from  giving  his  blessing  to  Almerio.  "  He  is  the  slayer  of  Zaccaria.  He 
killed  him  last  night,"  Gregorez  exclaims. 

Gregorez  continues  his  narrative  under  the  watching  eyes  of  Gismonda.  Almerio 
stands  impassive.  It  seems,  according  to  Gregorez,  Zaccaria  went  to  see  Almerio  on 
the  previous  evening,  to  persuade  him  to  break  his  vow  to  claim  Gismonda.  "  I  my- 
self guided  him  to  Almerio's  hut,"  Gregorez  explains,  "  afterwards  leaving  them  to 
talk.  The  murdered  body  of  Zaccaria  was  found  in  a  ravine  near  Alraerio's  hut.  It 
is  Almerio  who  killed  him ! " 

"  Are  you  going  to  permit  this  ? "  asks  Thisbe,  aside,  to  Gismonda. 

"  Patience,"  Gismonda  answers. 

The  Bishop  questions  Almerio. 

"  It's  true,"  he  says,  simply.  "  I  killed  Zaccaria.  He  insulted  me,  and  I  took  his 
life." 


26  GISMONDA. 

"  La  mort !  la  mort ! "  ils  orient. 

Gismonda  leur  dit  qu'ils  faisaient  trop  de  bruit  dans  l'<§glise,  qu'ils  parlent  plus  haute- 
taent  qu'elle. 

Tout  le  monde  se  taisent. 

"  Je  parlerai  avec  Alm£rio,"  elle  dit. 

"  Mais  pourquoi  ? "  ils  repondent.     "  II  confesse  son  de*lit." 

"  Parce  que  je  le  veux  !  ca  suffit." 

Tout  le  monde  sort,  excepte  Almerio. 

Gismonda  demande  pourquoi  il  s'est  accuse"  de  cette  crime.  Pourquoi  il  se  met  dans 
une  situation  si  terrible. 

"  Savez-vous  que  c'est  la  mort  ?  " 

"  Oui,  je  le  sais." 

"  La  torture  ? " 

"  Je  le  sais." 

"  Si  je  confesse  ma  part,  je  me  deshonore." 

Elle  dit  la  verite. 

La  Duchesse  d'Athenes,  la  mere  du  future  Due  sera  deshonore'e. 

Almerio  lui  conseille  de  se  taire.  Vol  oh  tiers  il  donnera  sa  vie  pour  elle.  11  a  et4 
heureux.  II  a  eu  des  moments  de  triomphe.  II  a  tenu  la  plus  belle  et  la  plus  fiere 
femme  du  monde  dans  ses  bras.  Qu'a-t-il  a  demander  a  Dieu  de  plus.  II  est  content 
de  mourir. 

II  ne  demande  qu'un  gite  en  terre  sacree. 

Gismonda  le  promit  avec  emotion. 

Thisbe  qui  voit  qu' Almerio  se  rend  a  Stradella,  reproche  Gismonda.  Gismonda  lui 
dit  que  c'est  pour  le  mettre  a  1'epreuve.  Elle  a  vu  1'effort  heroique  d' Almerio.  Elle> 
Taime  plus  que  jamais.  II  s'est  eprouve  un  homme  parmi  les  hommes  nobles.  "  Halte- 
la,  Stradella.  Je  vous  donnerai  un  autre — Gregorez.  C'est  son  tour,  maintenant." 

Elle  dit  a  Gregorez  que  c'est  lui  qui  a  jete  son  fils  au  tigre,  par  ordre  de  Zacaria. 
"  Je  vous  1'ai  entendue  dire  vous-meme  a  Zacaria.  et  aussi  que  vous  aviez  dessein  de 
assassiner  Almerio ! " 

"  Mais  j'ai  refuse,"  crie  Gregorez,  se  trahisant. 

"  Yous  avez  refuse  parce  qu'il  n'etait  pas  si  facile  a  tuer  un  homme  qu'un  enfant. 
Mais  ce  n'est  pas  Almerio  qui  a  tue  Zacaria.  C'est  moi ! " 

Hardiment  Gismonda  confesse  son  acte. 

Gregoras  est  emporte — prisonnier.     Sa  fin  s'approache  ! 

"  Et  maintenant  que  j'ai  punie  les  autres,  je  dirai  mes  propres  delits." 

Elle  raconte  son  experience  des  lieures  passees,  qui  en  defiant  de  son  vo3u  sacre, 
elle  a  offert  de  sacrifier  son  honneur  pour  garder  son  duche.  Elle  confesse  qu'elle  est 
alle  a  la  cabane  d' Almerio  pour  le  rencontrer ;  qu'il  n'y  a  qu'une  apologie  pour  sa 
folie  ;  rhomine  a  qni  elle  a  sacrifie  son  honheur  est  un  hero,  un  homme  si  brave  et  si 
bon  qu'une  femme  est  justifiee  en  1'aimant. 

Gismonda  se  tourne  vers  Almerio  et  le  prie,   avec   humilite,  de  lui  pardonner 


GISMONDA.  27 

The  barons  ask  Gismonda  what  punishment  she  will  put  upon  Almerio. 

"  Death,  death ! "  they  cry. 

Gismonda  tells  them  that  they  are  making  too  much  noise  in  church,  that  her  peo- 
ple are  leading  the  conversation  ;  not  only  that,  but  talking  louder  than  she. 

There  is  deep  silence. 

"  I  will  speak  with  Almerio,"  she  says,  at  length. 

"  But  why  ?  he  says  lie  is  guilty,"  the  barons  ask. 

"  Because  I  wish  it ;  that  is  enough  ;  "  and,  in  the  face  of  such  determination,  all 
exeunt,  save  Almerio. 

Gismonda  asks  Almerio  why  he  has  confessed  to  this  murder ;  why  he  has  put 
himself  in  a  false  position,  where  she  cannot  utter  one  word  to  save  him  ?  "  It  means 
death,"  she  explains. 

"  I  know  it !  " 

"And  torture." 

"  I  know  it  1 " 

"  If  I  acknowledge  my  part  in  the  matter,  I  prove  may  own  dishonor." 

Gismonda  states  the  case  truly.  It  means  the  dishonor  of  the  Duchess  of  Athens, 
the  mother  of  the  future  Duke." 

Almerio  advises  her  to  say  nothing.  He  is  selling  his  life  willingly.  He  has  been 
happy  ;  has  had  his  moments  of  absolute  triumph  over  her ;  has  known  what  it  is  to 
hold  the  loveliest  and  proudest  of  women  in  his  arms.  What  more  can  he  ask  of 
destiny,  of  God,  of  man  ?  With  the  memory  of  her  face  he  is  willing  to  die  without 
a  murmur.  All  that  he  asks  is  a  bit  of  consecrated  ground  :  will  Gismonda  give  him 
that  ?  She  promises. 

Thisbe,  who  sees  Almerio  giving  himself  up  to  Stradella,  reproaches  Gismonda. 

Gismonda  tells  her  it  is  a  test.  She  has  been  watching  Almerio's  heroic  struggle. 
She  loves  him  now  more  than  ever.  He  has  proved  himself.  He  is  a  man  among 
men,  a  man  among  noblemen. 

"  Stop,  Stradella,  I  will  give  you  another ! "  Gismonda  looks  at  Gregorez.  It  is 
his  turn  now. 

She  tells  Gregorez  that  it  was  he  who  threw  her  boy  to  the  tiger — at  the  order  of 
Zaccaria.  "  I  heard  you  say  so,  yourself.  You  intended  to  kill  Almerio " 

"  But  I  refused,"  cried  the  unhappy  Gregorez,  trapped  into  betraying  himself. 

"  You  refused  because  it  was  not  as  easy  to  deal  with  a  man  as  with  a  child. 
But  it  was  not  Almerio  who  killed  Zaccaria.  It  was  I ! "  Fearlessly  the  Duchess 
confesses  her  deed. 

Gregorez  is  taken  away,  a  prisoner.    His  end  is  near. 

"  And  now,  after  punishing  others,  let  me  confess  my  own  wrongdoing,"  and  Gis- 
monda states  her  own  experiences  during  the  past  few  hours.  How,  in  defiance  of  her 
sacred  vow  to  Almerio,  she  offered  to  sacrifice  her  honor  rather  than  the  duchy.  She 
confesses  that  she  went  to  Almerio's  hut  to  keep  tryst  with  him.  There  is,  she  admits, 
but  one  excuse  for  her  folly — the  man  for  whom  she  has  forgotten  her  honor  is  a  hero, 


28  GISMONDA. 

en  la  prenant  comme  e"pouse ;  qu'il  serait  le  gouverneur  de  son  peuple  et  le  pere  de 
son  fils. 

"  Je  serai  votre  femme  fidele  et  ob&ssante,  si  vous  voulez  m'accepter." 

La  Duchesse  s'humilie  devant  le  fauconnier. 

Almerio  prend  sa  main  avec  joie.  II  jure  de  la  proteger  et  son  fils  aussi,  et  d'etre 
nn  bon  prince  a  ses  sujets. 

ILusignan  prend  son  tour  de  parler.  II  jure  la  fide'lite'  la  plus  sincere,  &  elle  et  a 
Almerio,  an  nom  de  tout  les  juges. 

L'orgue  sonne  le  u  Gloria  "  et  Athenes  possede  un  nouveau  souverain. 


GISMOKDA.  29 

so  brave  and  true  that  most  women  would  have  been  justified  in  giving  him  their  love. 
Gismonda  then  turns  towards  Almerio.  She  asks  him  humbly,  before  her  listening 
subjects,  to  forgive  her  and  to  become  her  husband,  the  leader  of  her  people  and  the 
father  of  her  little  son. 

"  I  will  be  a  good  wife,  a  faithful  servant,  if  you  will  listen  to  my  humble  prayer," 
the  Duchess  entreats  the  falconer. 

Almerio  is  only  too  glad  and  proud  to  take  the  proffered  hand.  He  promises  duty 
towards  Gismonda,  her  son  and  the  people.  Lusignan  in  turn,  as  spokesman  for  the 
crowd  to  whom  Gismonda  has  confessed,  offers  the  most  faithful  allegiance  to  Almerio 
in  the  name  of  all  of  their  judges.  The  organ  rolls  out  "  Gloria."  Athens  has  a  new 
leader. 


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Of 

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